Self-binder.



No. 699,964. Patented 1an. I4, |902.

E. A. JOHNSTON.

S E L F BIN D E R.

(Application filed Mar. 5. 1901,]4

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INVENTOR WITN ESSES:

EDVARD A. JOHNSTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MCCORMICK IIARVESTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SELF=BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,964, dated January 14, 1902. Application filed March 5, 1901. Serial No. 49,747. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, EDWARD A. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Binders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of' the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to self-binders for grain and corn harvesters and the like, and has to do more especially with the devices for forming and compressing the bundle.

The particular object in viewis to provide improved means for holding the compressorfinger up above the deck during the formation of the bundle and operating it, so as to give the unal compression at the time when the knot is being tied and to drop out of the way below the deck when the bundle is ready to be discharged. In the preferred arrangement herein illustrated the compressor-finger is pivoted eccentrically to the needle, and the shaft of the needle has hung on it a latch which is operated at appropriate periods, so as to throw up the compressor and lock it in its raised position independently of the needle. Just before the needle descends this lock is broken or released and the compressor falls of its own Weight, quickly clearing the way for the discharge of the bundle; but immediately on the release of the lock, just before the knot is completed, a cam on the needle strikes a projection on the compressorarm, thereby throwing the latter momentarily still farther up, so as to give an additional squeeze to the bundle for the purpose of slackening the band and preventing the action of the knotter from breaking the twine by allowing it to draw extra twine from the band encircling the l bundle. As the compressor moves up to give the bundle this final compression the latch, being released, falls; but the compressor does not fall with it, but is held up by the needle-cam until the needle has receded slightly, when it is released and allowed to drop. The descent of the needle then continues, and after the bundle has been discharged from the machine it picks up the latch again and causes it to rengage the conipressor-arm and raise and restore it to its elevated position, with the compressor-linger projecting above the deck. In this position the latch is locked, and the needle is free to rise and perform its original functions up to the point where the tying of the knot is completed, and the bundle is ready to be discharged when the lock is broken and the compressor released and dropped in the manner 6o above described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure lis aside elevation of the needle and compressor in their normal positions ready to receive the incoining bundle, the position of the parts in giving the final compression to the bundle being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the same parts in the positions occupied after the release of the latch and just be- 7o fore the compressor falls. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the compressor dropped below the deck and the needle receding. Fig. e is a View similar to Fig. 3, but with the needle lowered still farther, illustrating the operation of the latch in restoring the compressorarm into the position shown in Fig. l.

Referring to the views, d denotes the needle or binder arm, and b the compressor-1inger. The needle is secured to the shaft d', 8o and the compressor finger is adjustably mounted on the arm b', which is pivoted eccentrically to the needle-shaft on a shaft b2.

Freely pivoted on the needle-shaft a alongside the hub of the needle is a latch or dog c, and on the heel of this latch is a projection c', the purpose of which will be explained farther on. The compressor-arm b has a projection b3, carrying a friction-roller b5, and the latch c extends upward from the needle- 9o shaft sufliciently to engage the roller on the projection b3, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and lift the compressor-arm and its finger from the position indicated in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. l. The hub of the needle is provided on the side adjacent to the latch o with projections a2 and a3 for the purpose of coperating with the projection c on the latch and causing it to rise and fall at the proper periods and lift the compressor-arm and to reroo lease it and allow it to fall. As the latch is operated only when the needle is approaching the extremes of its movement, the projections d2 and d3 are spaced apart on the hub of the needle sufficiently to permit the required movement. The projection d3 engages the upper side of the projection c as the needle descends, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and lifts the latch from the freely pendent position shown in Fig. 2 to the elevated position illustrated in Fig. l. In moving up the latch engages the under side of the roller b5 and lifts the compressor-arm, and when the arm has been lifted to its highest point the end of the latch slips past the roller and engages the shaft on which the compressor-arm is pivoted, thereby limiting the further upward movement of the latch, and in order to provide a lock for the compressor-arm the forward end of the latch is slightly recessed or curved to conform approximately to the shape of the roller b5, so that when the point of the latch passes the roller the latter will settle into the recess in the end of the arm and form, in effect, a toggle-lock, holding the compressor rigidly in its elevated position. When the needle rises and just before it reaches the upward limit of its movement, the projection d2 on its hub strikes the under side of the heel projection c of the latch and breaks this lock by knocking the front end of the latch out from under the roller b5, and Ithe latch is then allowed to fall into the position indicated in Fig. 2. It is necessary, however, that the compressor should not fall immediately, and, moreover, it is desirable that it be given a further slight elevation before it is allowed to fall in order to compress the bundle still further during the tying of the knot, so that there may be sufficient slack in the band to prevent the tier bill from breaking the twine. For this purpose the hub of the needle is provided with a tailpiece having a lug or projection d4, and the compressor-arm is provided with an inward projection b4, extending toward the hub of the needle, on which projection there is preferably sleeved an antifriction-roller bs. When the compressor-arm is in its normal elevated position, this roller stands in the path of the projection CL4, and as the needle reaches the upward limit of its movement and just after the projection d2 has struck the heel projection c of the latch, and thereby brokenv or released the lock holding the compressor up, the heel projection d4 on the needle engages the roller h6 on the compressor-arm and not only prevents the arm from falling, (which it otherwise would do `immediately on the release of the latch,) but raises the arm and its inger b farther upward into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l and in full lines in Fig. 2, thereby giving to the bundle the additional iinal compression above described. Immediately after this final compression of the bundle the needle starts to recede and the roller h6 runs off the lower edge of the projection a4, and the compressor-arm, being thereby deprived of all support, falls of its own weight, the roller b passing upward between the projection d on the heel of the needle and the hub of the latch c, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3. The needle continuing its descent, the projection a3 strikes the heel projection on the latch and swings the front end of the latch upward, causing it to engage the roller b5 on the compressor-arm and lift the arm and its finger, as clearlyindioated in Fig. 4, until the needle has reached the lower limit of its movement, when the front end of the arm engages the under side of the shaft b2 and the parts are locked in the position indicated in Fig. l, as heretofore described.

I-Iaving thus described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secure, is-

l. In a self-binder, the combination of a compressor-arm pivoted relatively eccentrically to the needle, a latch pivoted concentrically to the needle to hold the arm in elevated position, and projections on the needle to engage and release the latch when the needle rises and allow the compressor to fall, and to raise the latch and cause it to lift the compressor when the needle falls.

2. In a self-binder, the combination of a pivoted compressor-arm, a pivoted latch to hold the arm in elevated position,a connection between the needle and the arm to give a nal compression to the bundle, and a connection between the needle and the latch whereby the latter is caused to lift the compressor when the needle descends, and is released to allow the compressor to .fall when the needle ascends.

3. In a self-binder, a pivoted compressorarm, a pivoted latch, a projection on the heel of the compressor-arm, a cam on the needle cooperating therewith to give a final compression to the bundle, a projection on the compressor-arm engaged by the latch, and cooperating projections on the needle and latch to raise the latter and cause it to lift the compressor.

4E. In a self-binder, the combination of a compressor-arm pivoted eccentrically to the needle, a latch freely pivoted on the needleshaft, a projection on the arm to be engaged by the forward end of the latch, a projection on the heel of the latch, and projections on the needle to engage the latch projection when the needle is raised for the purpose of releasing the latch and allowing it to fall, and lifting it when the needle descends and causing it to raise the compressor.

5. In a self-binder, the combination of a p ivoted com pressor-arm, a latch freely pivoted on the needle-shaft and having a heel projection, a projection on the compressor-arm to IOO IIO

be engaged by the forward end of the latch,

heel of the compressor-arm, and a cam onthe needle to engage the latter and give the bundle a final compression after the latch is released.

6. In a self-binder, the combination of a pivoted compressor-arm, a pivoted latch to lift and hold the arm in elevated position, a proj ection on the latch, a projection on the needle to engage the upper side of the latch projection as the needle falls to lift the latch, a projection on the needle to engage the under side of the latch projection as the needle rises to release the latch, and a cam on the needle to catch the compressor-arm when released by the latch to hold it until the needle starts to recede.

7. In a self-binder, the combination of a pivoted compressor-arm having a projection b3, a freely-pivoted latch having its front end c2 constructed to lit the projection b3, a projection c on the heel of the latch, and a needle having the projection d3 to engage the latch projection c.

8. In a self-hinder, the combination of a compressor-arm pivoted upon a shaft b2, a pivoted latch having a heel projection c', a projection a3 on the needle to engage the projection c' and lift the latch, and a projection b3 on the compressor-arm to he engaged by the front end of the latch, the needle projection a3 serving to lift the latch and raise the compressor-arm until the projection b3 runs off its end, and the shaft b2 serving to limit the upward movement of the latch after it has passed the projection b3, thereby forming a toggle-lock to hold the compressor up.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD A. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM WEBBER, CHAs. W. ALLEN. 

